Jimmy Watson was a stalwart full-back in some of Ireland's earliest forays into international football. He captained the Irish in their 5-0 defeat by Wales in Wrexham in 1886 and was part of the team that claimed its first ever international victory against the same opposition a year later.

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At club level, with Ulster, Watson played in two Irish Cup Finals, both against Cliftonville, a 5-0 defeat in 1883 and a 3-1 win in 1887.